Emailing for RESULTS!

The rules haven’t changed, but as we enter the era of mobile communication, it is important to consider email etiquette more than ever. There are several reasons why appropriate email etiquette should be important to you:

Respecting others time

Presenting yourself and your affiliations in a professional manner

Portray yourself as being technically astute (*whether or not that may be the case, it is a sign of higher intelligence)

Better reception of your communication, both electronically and in person

Nothing is more frustrating than an email box full of spam. Do not contribute to the mess. Most people either ignore or are unaware that these simple rules of e-engagement should be considered basic email etiquette:

Be concise! – “Write for a mobile screen regardless of audience.” If you keep this in mind while composing an email, it will ensure that your message is accurate and to the point. Imagine the recipient reading your message in a busy airport on his or her mobile device. Make every word count.

Reread and Edit – If you expect someone else to read and respond to the email, take a moment to give it a second look before publishing. Check to make sure your main purpose of sending the email is crystal clear and that you are including a call-to-action. (How do you expect the recipient to respond?) Is the important document you mentioned attached?

Respond Appropriately - There is nothing more frustrating than being included in a large email and receiving all of the “Reply-All” return emails which are meant solely for the original author. Do the other recipients really need to know your reply message?

Less is more - Is that attachment found online? Send them the URL instead. Are you forwarding something that can be trimmed down? Share the “guts”, not the fluff.